EP2649662A1 - Fuel cell and fuel cell stack - Google Patents

Fuel cell and fuel cell stack

Info

Publication number
EP2649662A1
EP2649662A1 EP11808923.4A EP11808923A EP2649662A1 EP 2649662 A1 EP2649662 A1 EP 2649662A1 EP 11808923 A EP11808923 A EP 11808923A EP 2649662 A1 EP2649662 A1 EP 2649662A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fuel cell
manifold portion
porous passage
oxidant gas
gas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP11808923.4A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2649662B1 (en
Inventor
Kenji Sato
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toyota Motor Corp
Original Assignee
Toyota Motor Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toyota Motor Corp filed Critical Toyota Motor Corp
Publication of EP2649662A1 publication Critical patent/EP2649662A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2649662B1 publication Critical patent/EP2649662B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/002—Shape, form of a fuel cell
    • H01M8/006—Flat
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/023—Porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0232—Metals or alloys
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0271—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0271—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
    • H01M8/0273—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2483—Details of groupings of fuel cells characterised by internal manifolds
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M2008/1095—Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack. More specifically, the invention relates to a fuel cell including a metal porous body that serves as a gas passage layer, and a fuel cell stack including the fuel cell.
  • a polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly that is formed by stacking a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, in this order, on each side of an ion-permeable electrolyte membrane.
  • the membrane electrode assembly is held between two gas passage layers, and the membrane electrode assembly held between the gas passage layers are held between two separators. In this way, a single cell is formed. Multiple cells are assembled together to form a fuel cell stack.
  • Fuel gas that contains hydrogen is supplied to an anode (negative electrode), and an electrochemical reaction expressed by formula (1) below occurs, thereby producing protons from the fuel gas at the anode.
  • the produced protons pass through the electrolyte membrane to reach a cathode (positive electrode).
  • Oxidant gas that contains oxygen is supplied to the cathode (positive electrode), and an electrochemical reaction expressed by formula (2) below occurs, in which the oxygen reacts with protons from the anode (negative electrode), so that water is produced.
  • the electrochemical reactions that occur at the electrolyte membrane-side surfaces of the paired electrodes are used to obtain electric energy from the electrodes.
  • a fuel cell configured as described above is available, in which a metal porous body that is excellent in gas diffusion properties and electrical conductivity is used as the gas passage layer in order to supply fuel gas or oxidant gas to the electrode and collect electricity generated through the electrochemical reactions.
  • the metal porous body include an expanded metal and a sintered metal foam.
  • Conventional methods for producing the metal porous body include cutting and expanding a titanium sheet, a stainless steel sheet, or the like. For example, slits are made in a titanium sheet, a stainless steel sheet, or the like in a staggered manner and the sheet with slits is expanded by being stretched so that a mesh metal sheet, that is, an expanded metal is obtained.
  • the metal porous body obtained by cutting and expanding a metal sheet in the above-described manner is cut into pieces having a given size in accordance with the external dimensions of the fuel cell.
  • the obtained pieces are disposed on the respective sides of the membrane electrode assembly so that the fuel cell is formed.
  • the metal porous body may be cut into pieces by a laser cutter, or with the use of a die (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-80201 (JP-A-2010-80201)). With this method, a surface pressure or heat applied to the metal porous body may break an end surface of the metal porous body, which is a cut end surface, thereby causing clogging of pores. As shown in FIG.
  • an end surface 40 of a metal porous body functions as an inlet for gas that is supplied through a gas supply manifold portion 20. Therefore, clogging of the pores in an end surface portion of the metal porous body increases loss of gas introduction pressure, which may decrease, for example, the amount of gas that is supplied to the electrode, gas diffusivity, and electric power generation performance of the fuel cell.
  • the invention provides a fuel cell in which a sufficient amount of fuel gas or oxidant gas is supplied to an electrode regardless of the degree of clogging at an end surface portion of a metal porous body, and also provides a fuel cell stack including the fuel cell.
  • a first aspect of the invention is a fuel cell that includes: a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane, an anode disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode disposed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane; a porous passage that is disposed on at least one side of the membrane electrode assembly, and through which a fuel gas is supplied to the anode or an oxidant gas is supplied to the cathode; and a manifold portion, through which the fuel gas or the oxidant gas is supplied to the porous passage, and that is provided so as to pass through the fuel cell in a stacking direction, in which the electrolyte membrane, the anode, the cathode, and the porous passage are stacked, wherein a manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage has a gas inlet at at least one of stacking surfaces of the porous passage that face in the stacking direction.
  • the porous passage that supplies the fuel gas or the oxidant gas has gas inlets at an end surface and at at least one of the stacking surfaces that face in the direction in which the membrane electrode assembly and the porous flow path are stacked. Therefore, regardless of the degree of clogging at the end surface portion of the porous passage, the fuel gas or the oxidant gas is reliably introduced into the porous passage through the stacking surface.
  • the gas inlet is not merely provided at the stacking surface of the porous passage, that is, the gas inlet is provided at the stacking surface(s) of the end portion of the porous passage, so that a power generation area of the membrane electrode assembly is not reduced.
  • the fuel cell according to the first aspect may further include: a sealing member that is disposed between an outer end surface of the membrane electrode assembly and the manifold portion; and a shield member that is disposed between the sealing member and the porous passage, wherein a manifold portion-side end portion of the shield member extends further outward, with respect to the fuel cell, than a manifold portion-side end portion of the sealing member.
  • the manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage may project into the manifold portion. Further, in the fuel cell, the manifold portion-side end portion of the shield member may extend further outward, with respect to the fuel cell, than the manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage.
  • the fuel gas or the oxidant gas that passes through the manifold portion naturally flows into the porous passage. Therefore, the efficiency of the gas introduction from the manifold portion is improved.
  • the shield member can change the flow direction of the gas. This further facilitates the gas introduction into the porous passage, and promotes the gas introduced into the porous passage to flow further inward (inward in the fuel cell).
  • the fuel cell according to the first aspect may further include: a sealing member that is disposed adjacent to a manifold portion-side end portion of the membrane electrode assembly, wherein a manifold portion-side end portion of one of the anode and cathode that is in contact with the porous passage extends further outward, with respect to the fuel cell, than a manifold portion-side end portion of the sealing member.
  • a configuration may be employed, in which a separator having a projecting portion is disposed on one side of the membrane electrode assembly with the porous passage interposed between the separator and the membrane electrode assembly, the manifold portion and a space formed by the projecting portion of the separator communicate with each other, and the porous passage is provided such that a manifold portion-side edge of the porous passage is located at a position within a width of the projecting portion of the separator.
  • a second aspect of the invention is a fuel cell stack including the fuel cell according to the first aspect.
  • FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell stack according to an embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2A is a plan view of a fuel cell according to the embodiment of the invention, viewed from a cathode side;
  • FIG. 2B is a plan view of the fuel cell according to the embodiment of the invention, viewed from an anode side;
  • FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to a first embodiment of the invention, taken along the line A-A in FIGS. 2A and 2B;.
  • FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the fuel cell according to the first embodiment of the invention, taken along the line A2-A2 in FIGS. 2A and 2B;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to related art.
  • FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell stack 1.
  • FIG. 2A is a plan view of a fuel cell 2 (hereinafter also referred to as "cell 2") viewed from the cathode side.
  • FIG. 2B is a plan view of the cell 2 viewed from the anode side. That is, FIG. 2A shows one side of the cell 2, and FIG. 2B shows the other side of the cell 2.
  • FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
  • the fuel cell stack 1 is formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells 2.
  • the stacked cells 2 are electrically connected in series. Electric currents obtained through electric power generation at the cells 2 are collected at two current collector plates 30 that are provided at respective ends in a stacking direction of the stacked cells 2. The collected electric currents are supplied to electric apparatuses such as an electric load and a secondary battery.
  • the fuel cell stack 1 may include only one fuel cell 2.
  • the current collector plate 30 of the fuel cell stack 1 has a fuel gas inlet 32a, an oxidant gas inlet 34a, and a coolant inlet 36a through which a fuel gas, an oxidant gas, and a coolant are respectively introduced into the fuel cell stack 1. Further, the current collector plate 30 has a fuel gas outlet 32b, an oxidant gas outlet 34b, and a coolant outlet 36b through which the fuel gas, the oxidant gas, and the coolant are respectively discharged from the fuel cell stack 1. [0020] As shown in FIG.
  • the cell 2 has, at an end portion of the outer periphery thereof, a fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a, an oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, and a coolant supply manifold portion 22a.
  • the cell 2 also has, at another end portion of the outer periphery thereof, a fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b, an oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b, and a coolant discharge manifold portion 22b at positions that are opposed to the positions of the above corresponding supply manifold portions.
  • These supply and discharge manifold portions are each provided so as to pass through the cell 2 in the direction in which the cells 2 are stacked (hereinafter, referred to as "stacking direction").
  • the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a, the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, and the coolant supply manifold portion 22a communicate with the fuel gas inlet 32a, the oxidant gas inlet 34a, and the coolant inlet 36a, respectively, which are formed in the current collector plate 30 of the fuel cell stack 1.
  • the fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b, the oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b, and the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b communicate with the fuel gas outlet 32b, the oxidant gas outlet 34b, and the coolant outlet 36b, respectively, which are formed in the current collector plate 30 of the fuel cell stack 1.
  • the fuel gas is supplied to each cell 2 through the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a thereof, flows diagonally inside the cell 2, and is discharged from the cell 2 through the fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b thereof.
  • the oxidant gas is supplied to each cell 2-through the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a thereof, flows diagonally inside the cell 2, and is discharged from the cell 2 through the oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b thereof.
  • the coolant is supplied to each cell 2 through the coolant supply manifold portion 22a thereof, flows through gaps between this cell 2 and another cell 2 that is positioned next to this cell 2, and is discharged from this cell 2 through the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b thereof.
  • the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a and the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a are positioned diagonally opposite to the fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b and the oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b, respectively.
  • the positions of the manifold portions and the flow directions of the gases may be changed as needed, as long as the fuel gas flows on one side of separator and the oxidant gas flows on the other side of the separator.
  • the cell 2 when viewed from the anode side, the cell 2 has various manifold portions at the end portions of the outer periphery thereof.
  • the cell 2 has a recess, which is a projection on the back side, at a central portion thereof that forms passages extending from the coolant supply manifold portion 22a to the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b.
  • the recess projection
  • the recess is formed by recessed portions 42 and projected portions 44. The fuel gas flows along the recessed portions 42 and the coolant flows along the projected portions 44.
  • stepped portions 46 are provided between the manifold portions at the end portions of the outer periphery and the recess (projection) at the central portion.
  • One of the stepped portions 46 communicates with the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a and the recessed portions 42, and causes the fuel gas supplied through the fuel gas manifold portion 18a further inward.
  • FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2A, and the arrows indicate how the oxidant gas is supplied to the cathode.
  • the cell 2 includes a membrane electrode assembly 6, a cathode-side porous passage 8, an anode-side groove passage 10, a sealing member 12, separators 14a and 14b, and a shield member 16.
  • FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4, 5, and 6 each show only left portions of the two cells 2 stacked. Note that reference numerals are assigned only to the components of the upper cell 2.
  • the membrane electrode assembly 6 is formed of an ion-conductive electrolyte membrane 3, a cathode 4 that is disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane 3, and an anode 5 that is disposed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane 3. Protons and electrons are produced from the fuel gas supplied to the anode 5. The protons pass through the electrolyte membrane 3 to reach the cathode 4. These protons react with the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode 4, whereby electric energy and water are produced.
  • materials for the membrane electrode assembly 6 include the following. ' That is, an ion-exchange resin having a fluorine-containing polymer as a skeleton may be used as the material for the electrolyte membrane 3.
  • a conductive support formed by causing a carbon material (e.g. carbon black) to support a metal catalyst such as Pt or Au may be used.
  • the porous passage 8 is formed of a metal porous body such as an expanded metal or a metal sintered body, and is provided on the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly 6. An end portion of the porous passage 8 projects into the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a.
  • the cathode-side porous passage 8 communicates with the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a. Through the porous passage 8, the oxidant gas introduced through the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is supplied to the cathode 5 of the membrane electrode assembly 6.
  • the separator 14a is formed of a conductive flat plate made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, and is disposed on the surface of the porous passage 8, which is on the opposite side of the porous passage 8 from the membrane electrode assembly 6.
  • the separator 14a has an opening at a position corresponding to the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, whereby the passage for the oxidant gas is formed.
  • the separator 14a has openings at positions corresponding to the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a, the coolant supply manifold portion 22a, the fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b, the oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b, and the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b (not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B).
  • the separator 14b is provided on the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly 6. Like the separator 14a, the separator 14b is made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel.
  • the separator 14b has the recess (projection) at its central portion thereof, which forms passages extending from the coolant supply manifold portion 22a to the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b (see FIG. 2B).
  • the recess (projection) is formed by the recessed portions 42 and the projected portions 44.
  • the fuel gas flows along the recessed portions 42 and the coolant flows along the projected portions 44.
  • the separator 14b also has the stepped portions 46 between the manifold portions at the end portions of the outer periphery and the recess (projection) at the central portion.
  • the stepped portion 46 of the separator 14b between the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a and the recessed portions 42 at the central portion is formed like stairs.
  • the separator 14b is in contact with the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the sealing member 12 at the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20aside thereof.
  • the separator 14b is separate from the membrane electrode assembly 6 at the stepped portion 46, and is in contact with the adjacent cell at the recessed portions 42 at the central portion of the cell 2.
  • the gap is formed between the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the separator 14b, whereby the groove passages 10 in which the fuel gas flows are formed. That is, the fuel gas supplied through the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a (not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) flows through the groove passages 10 and is supplied to the anode 5.
  • the stepped portion 46 of the separator 14b is formed so as to project in the stacking direction toward the adjacent cell.
  • the separator 14b is in contact with the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the sealing member 12 at the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a side thereof.
  • the separator 14b is separate from the membrane electrode assembly 6 at the stepped portion 46, and is in contact with the membrane electrode assembly 6 also at the projected portions 44 at the central portion of the cell 2.
  • a space 50 is formed between the separator 14b and a separator 14a of the adjacent cell, through which the coolant flows.
  • the coolant supplied through the coolant supply manifold portion 22a flows between the separator 14b and the adjacent cell 2 to cool the cells 2.
  • the projections and recesses are formed on both sides of the separator 14b, and the projections and recesses on one side match the recesses and projections on the other side, respectively.
  • the separator 14b may be formed such that one side thereof is flat and the other side thereof has projections and recesses.
  • the shield member 16 and the sealing member 12 are disposed between the porous passage 8 and the separator 14b at the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a side of the cell 2.
  • the shield member 16 is made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel.
  • An oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a-side end portion of the shield member 16 extends further outward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the porous passage 8.
  • the other end portion of the shield member 16 extends further inward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the cathode 4 so as to be held between the cathode 4 and the porous passage 8.
  • the sealing member 12 is provided, adjacent to an end surface of the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the groove passages 10, on the opposite side of the shield member 16 from the porous passage 8, so as to seal a gap between the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, and the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the groove passages 10. Therefore, the oxidant gas supplied through the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is supplied to the membrane electrode assembly 6 through the porous passage 8 without leaking to the anode 5 or the groove passages 10.
  • Gaskets 13 are disposed between the separator 14b of the cell 2 and the separator 14a of the adjacent cell 2. The gaps formed between these separators 14b and 14a form passages for the coolant.
  • the oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is supplied to the cathode 4 through an end portion of a separator 14a-side stacking surface of the cathode-side porous passage 8, the stacking surface being a surface facing in the stacking direction. Therefore, even if the porosity of an end surface portion of the porous passage 8 is low, a sufficient amount of oxidant gas is introduced into the porous passage 8 and supplied to the cathode 4, whereby it is possible to improve the power generation performance of the fuel cell stack 1.
  • the oxidant gas is supplied from the anode side toward the cathode side.
  • the oxidant gas may be supplied from the cathode side toward the anode side.
  • the direction in which the oxidant gas flows inside the manifold portion 20a and the direction in which the oxidant gas is introduced into the porous passage 8 are opposite to each other. Therefore, the gas does not rapidly flow into the porous passage 8, which makes it possible to supply gas uniformly to each cell 2 of the fuel cell stack 1.
  • the shield member 16 functions as a guide, so that the gas is more efficiently introduced into the porous passage 8.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Portions the same in structure as those in FIG. 3A will not be described below.
  • the shield member 16 is not provided at the boundary between the porous passage 8 and the sealing member 12, and the end portion of the cathode electrode 4 is extended in the direction of the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a.
  • the end portion of the cathode 4 extends further outward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the sealing member 12.
  • the cathode 4 covers the electrolyte membrane 3 and the sealing member 12, thereby providing a shielding effect.
  • the end portion of the cathode electrode 4 extends outward with respect to the cell 2 means that the end portion of the cathode electrode 4 extends outward, with respect to the cell 2, in the plane of the cathode electrode 4.
  • a diffusion layer (not shown) is interposed between the cathode electrode 4 and the porous passage 8, the end portion of the diffusion layer, in addition to or instead of the cathode electrode 4, may extend further outward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the sealing member 12.
  • the cell structure is simplified, so that it is possible to reduce the number of components. Further, the power generation area is not reduced by the shield member. Thus, it is possible to efficiently supply the fuel gas or the oxidant gas to the porous passage while ensuring a sufficient size of power generation area in the membrane electrode assembly.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line A- A in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Portions the same in structure as those in FIG. 3A will not be described below.
  • the end portion of the porous passage 8 is disposed further inward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the shield member 16 at the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a side.
  • the separator 14a has a projecting portion at a position corresponding to the end portion of the porous passage 8, and the end portion of the porous passage 8 is disposed at a position corresponding to the projecting portion of the separator 14a. Therefore, the oxidant gas supplied through the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is introduced through the end surface and the upper surface of the end portion of the porous passage 8 and is supplied to the membrane electrode assembly 6.
  • the separator 14b has a key-like bent portion along the outer periphery of the groove passages 10.
  • the projecting portion of the separator 14a is fitted into the key-like bent portion of the separator 14b.
  • the coolant flows through the gaps between the separator 14b and the separator 14a of the adjacent cell 2.
  • the oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is efficiently supplied to the cathode 4 through a portion of the upper surface of the porous passage 8 (the surface on the separator 14a side), which is located at a position corresponding to the projecting portion of the separator 14a and which serves as the gas inlet.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Portions the same in structure as those in FIG. 3A will not be described below.
  • the end portion of the porous passage 8 is disposed further outward, with respect to the fuel cell 2, than the end portion of the shield member 16, projecting into the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a.
  • the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is a throughhole that is formed by the manifold holes provided in the separators 14a, 14b, which are aligned in the stacking direction, so as to pass through the fuel cell stack.
  • the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a communicates with the oxidant gas inlet 34a formed in the current collector plate 30.
  • the oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is introduced into the porous passage 8 from its lower surface in the stacking direction. Then, the oxidant gas flows in two directions. That is, the oxidant gas flowing in one direction passes through the porous passage 8, is discharged into the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, and flows toward the next cell 2, while the oxidant gas flowing in the other direction flows inside the porous passage 8. Further, a portion of the oxidant gas once discharged from the porous passage 8 into the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a turns around to be introduced into the porous passage 8 from its upper surface in the stacking direction.
  • the oxidant gas thus introduced into the porous passage 8 from its upper and lower surfaces flows through the porous passage 8, and is supplied to the membrane electrode assembly 6.
  • a sufficient amount of oxidant gas is introduced into the porous passage 8 from both the upper and lower stacking surfaces thereof.
  • the flow direction and the flow rate of the oxidant gas may be changed depending on the pore size and shape of the porous passage 8.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

A fuel cell (2) includes: a membrane electrode assembly (6) having an electrolyte membrane (3), an anode (5) disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode (4) disposed on the other side thereof; a porous passage (8) that is disposed on at least one side of the membrane electrode assembly (6), and through which a fuel gas is supplied to the anode (5) or an oxidant gas is supplied to the cathode (4); and a manifold portion (20a), through which the fuel gas or the oxidant gas is supplied to the porous passage (8), and that is provided so as to pass through the fuel cell (2) in a stacking direction, in which the electrolyte membrane (3), the anode (5), the cathode (4), and the porous passage (8) are stacked, wherein a manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage (8) has a gas inlet at least one of stacking surfaces of the porous passage (8) that face in the stacking direction.

Description

FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL STACK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention relates to a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack. More specifically, the invention relates to a fuel cell including a metal porous body that serves as a gas passage layer, and a fuel cell stack including the fuel cell. 2. Description of Related Art
[0002] A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly that is formed by stacking a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, in this order, on each side of an ion-permeable electrolyte membrane. The membrane electrode assembly is held between two gas passage layers, and the membrane electrode assembly held between the gas passage layers are held between two separators. In this way, a single cell is formed. Multiple cells are assembled together to form a fuel cell stack. Fuel gas that contains hydrogen is supplied to an anode (negative electrode), and an electrochemical reaction expressed by formula (1) below occurs, thereby producing protons from the fuel gas at the anode. The produced protons pass through the electrolyte membrane to reach a cathode (positive electrode). Oxidant gas that contains oxygen is supplied to the cathode (positive electrode), and an electrochemical reaction expressed by formula (2) below occurs, in which the oxygen reacts with protons from the anode (negative electrode), so that water is produced. The electrochemical reactions that occur at the electrolyte membrane-side surfaces of the paired electrodes are used to obtain electric energy from the electrodes.
Anode reaction: H2→ 2H+ + 2e" (1)
Cathode reaction: 2H+ + 2e" + (l/2)02→ H20 (2)
[0003] A fuel cell configured as described above is available, in which a metal porous body that is excellent in gas diffusion properties and electrical conductivity is used as the gas passage layer in order to supply fuel gas or oxidant gas to the electrode and collect electricity generated through the electrochemical reactions. Examples of the metal porous body include an expanded metal and a sintered metal foam. Conventional methods for producing the metal porous body include cutting and expanding a titanium sheet, a stainless steel sheet, or the like. For example, slits are made in a titanium sheet, a stainless steel sheet, or the like in a staggered manner and the sheet with slits is expanded by being stretched so that a mesh metal sheet, that is, an expanded metal is obtained.
[0004] The metal porous body obtained by cutting and expanding a metal sheet in the above-described manner is cut into pieces having a given size in accordance with the external dimensions of the fuel cell. The obtained pieces are disposed on the respective sides of the membrane electrode assembly so that the fuel cell is formed. The metal porous body may be cut into pieces by a laser cutter, or with the use of a die (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-80201 (JP-A-2010-80201)). With this method, a surface pressure or heat applied to the metal porous body may break an end surface of the metal porous body, which is a cut end surface, thereby causing clogging of pores. As shown in FIG. 7, an end surface 40 of a metal porous body functions as an inlet for gas that is supplied through a gas supply manifold portion 20. Therefore, clogging of the pores in an end surface portion of the metal porous body increases loss of gas introduction pressure, which may decrease, for example, the amount of gas that is supplied to the electrode, gas diffusivity, and electric power generation performance of the fuel cell. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention provides a fuel cell in which a sufficient amount of fuel gas or oxidant gas is supplied to an electrode regardless of the degree of clogging at an end surface portion of a metal porous body, and also provides a fuel cell stack including the fuel cell.
[0006] A first aspect of the invention is a fuel cell that includes: a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane, an anode disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode disposed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane; a porous passage that is disposed on at least one side of the membrane electrode assembly, and through which a fuel gas is supplied to the anode or an oxidant gas is supplied to the cathode; and a manifold portion, through which the fuel gas or the oxidant gas is supplied to the porous passage, and that is provided so as to pass through the fuel cell in a stacking direction, in which the electrolyte membrane, the anode, the cathode, and the porous passage are stacked, wherein a manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage has a gas inlet at at least one of stacking surfaces of the porous passage that face in the stacking direction.
[0007] According to the first aspect, the porous passage that supplies the fuel gas or the oxidant gas has gas inlets at an end surface and at at least one of the stacking surfaces that face in the direction in which the membrane electrode assembly and the porous flow path are stacked. Therefore, regardless of the degree of clogging at the end surface portion of the porous passage, the fuel gas or the oxidant gas is reliably introduced into the porous passage through the stacking surface. Further, the gas inlet is not merely provided at the stacking surface of the porous passage, that is, the gas inlet is provided at the stacking surface(s) of the end portion of the porous passage, so that a power generation area of the membrane electrode assembly is not reduced. Thus, it is possible to improve the gas introduction efficiency while maintaining a sufficient size of power generation area. This makes it possible to reliably supply the fuel gas or the oxidant gas to the membrane electrode assembly and to improve the power generation performance of the fuel cell stack.
[0008] The fuel cell according to the first aspect may further include: a sealing member that is disposed between an outer end surface of the membrane electrode assembly and the manifold portion; and a shield member that is disposed between the sealing member and the porous passage, wherein a manifold portion-side end portion of the shield member extends further outward, with respect to the fuel cell, than a manifold portion-side end portion of the sealing member.
[0009] According to the fuel cell configured as described above, it is possible to prevent the situation where the sealing member adjacent to the porous passage permeates and clogs the pores of the porous passage, which may result in blockage of the gas inlet. Consequently, it is possible to reliably cause the fuel gas or the oxidant gas to flow from the gas inlet to the membrane electrode assembly and to be supplied thereto.
[0010] Further, in the fuel cell according to the first aspect, the manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage may project into the manifold portion. Further, in the fuel cell, the manifold portion-side end portion of the shield member may extend further outward, with respect to the fuel cell, than the manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage.
[0011] According to the fuel cell configured as described above, the fuel gas or the oxidant gas that passes through the manifold portion naturally flows into the porous passage. Therefore, the efficiency of the gas introduction from the manifold portion is improved. Further, the shield member can change the flow direction of the gas. This further facilitates the gas introduction into the porous passage, and promotes the gas introduced into the porous passage to flow further inward (inward in the fuel cell). Thus, it is possible to efficiently introduce a sufficient amount of fuel gas or oxidant gas into the porous passage and facilitate gas flow through the porous passage, thereby improving the power generation performance of the fuel cell stack.
[0012] The fuel cell according to the first aspect may further include: a sealing member that is disposed adjacent to a manifold portion-side end portion of the membrane electrode assembly, wherein a manifold portion-side end portion of one of the anode and cathode that is in contact with the porous passage extends further outward, with respect to the fuel cell, than a manifold portion-side end portion of the sealing member.
[0013] In the fuel cell according to the first aspect, a configuration may be employed, in which a separator having a projecting portion is disposed on one side of the membrane electrode assembly with the porous passage interposed between the separator and the membrane electrode assembly, the manifold portion and a space formed by the projecting portion of the separator communicate with each other, and the porous passage is provided such that a manifold portion-side edge of the porous passage is located at a position within a width of the projecting portion of the separator.
[0014] According to the fuel cell configured as described above, it is possible to introduce the fuel gas or the oxidant gas into the porous passage while suppressing a pressure loss of the gas inside the manifold portion.
[0015] A second aspect of the invention is a fuel cell stack including the fuel cell according to the first aspect.
[0016] According to the invention, it is possible to reliably supply the fuel gas or the oxidant gas to the membrane electrode assembly regardless of a cutting condition and porosity of an end surface portion of the porous passage, thereby providing a fuel cell stack with improved power generation performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell stack according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2A is a plan view of a fuel cell according to the embodiment of the invention, viewed from a cathode side;
FIG. 2B is a plan view of the fuel cell according to the embodiment of the invention, viewed from an anode side;
FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to a first embodiment of the invention, taken along the line A-A in FIGS. 2A and 2B;.
FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the fuel cell according to the first embodiment of the invention, taken along the line A2-A2 in FIGS. 2A and 2B;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to a third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a fuel cell according to related art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0018] Hereafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3 A and 3B. FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell stack 1. FIG. 2A is a plan view of a fuel cell 2 (hereinafter also referred to as "cell 2") viewed from the cathode side. FIG. 2B is a plan view of the cell 2 viewed from the anode side. That is, FIG. 2A shows one side of the cell 2, and FIG. 2B shows the other side of the cell 2. FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along the line A2-A2 in FIGS. 2A and 2B. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell stack 1 is formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells 2. The stacked cells 2 are electrically connected in series. Electric currents obtained through electric power generation at the cells 2 are collected at two current collector plates 30 that are provided at respective ends in a stacking direction of the stacked cells 2. The collected electric currents are supplied to electric apparatuses such as an electric load and a secondary battery. Note that, although the fuel cell stack 1 is formed by stacking the multiple fuel cells 2 in the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 1 may include only one fuel cell 2.
[0019] The current collector plate 30 of the fuel cell stack 1 has a fuel gas inlet 32a, an oxidant gas inlet 34a, and a coolant inlet 36a through which a fuel gas, an oxidant gas, and a coolant are respectively introduced into the fuel cell stack 1. Further, the current collector plate 30 has a fuel gas outlet 32b, an oxidant gas outlet 34b, and a coolant outlet 36b through which the fuel gas, the oxidant gas, and the coolant are respectively discharged from the fuel cell stack 1. [0020] As shown in FIG. 2A, the cell 2 has, at an end portion of the outer periphery thereof, a fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a, an oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, and a coolant supply manifold portion 22a. The cell 2 also has, at another end portion of the outer periphery thereof, a fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b, an oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b, and a coolant discharge manifold portion 22b at positions that are opposed to the positions of the above corresponding supply manifold portions. These supply and discharge manifold portions are each provided so as to pass through the cell 2 in the direction in which the cells 2 are stacked (hereinafter, referred to as "stacking direction"). When the cells 2 are stacked, passages for the fuel gas, the oxidant gas, and the coolant are formed.
[0021] The fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a, the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, and the coolant supply manifold portion 22a communicate with the fuel gas inlet 32a, the oxidant gas inlet 34a, and the coolant inlet 36a, respectively, which are formed in the current collector plate 30 of the fuel cell stack 1. Similarly, the fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b, the oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b, and the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b communicate with the fuel gas outlet 32b, the oxidant gas outlet 34b, and the coolant outlet 36b, respectively, which are formed in the current collector plate 30 of the fuel cell stack 1.
[0022] The fuel gas is supplied to each cell 2 through the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a thereof, flows diagonally inside the cell 2, and is discharged from the cell 2 through the fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b thereof. Similarly, the oxidant gas is supplied to each cell 2-through the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a thereof, flows diagonally inside the cell 2, and is discharged from the cell 2 through the oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b thereof. The coolant is supplied to each cell 2 through the coolant supply manifold portion 22a thereof, flows through gaps between this cell 2 and another cell 2 that is positioned next to this cell 2, and is discharged from this cell 2 through the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b thereof. Note that in the first embodiment, the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a and the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a are positioned diagonally opposite to the fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b and the oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b, respectively. However, the positions of the manifold portions and the flow directions of the gases may be changed as needed, as long as the fuel gas flows on one side of separator and the oxidant gas flows on the other side of the separator.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2B, when viewed from the anode side, the cell 2 has various manifold portions at the end portions of the outer periphery thereof. The cell 2 has a recess, which is a projection on the back side, at a central portion thereof that forms passages extending from the coolant supply manifold portion 22a to the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b. Assuming that the cathode side is a front side and the anode side is a back side, the recess (projection) is formed by recessed portions 42 and projected portions 44. The fuel gas flows along the recessed portions 42 and the coolant flows along the projected portions 44. Further, stepped portions 46 are provided between the manifold portions at the end portions of the outer periphery and the recess (projection) at the central portion. One of the stepped portions 46 communicates with the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a and the recessed portions 42, and causes the fuel gas supplied through the fuel gas manifold portion 18a further inward.
[0024] FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2A, and the arrows indicate how the oxidant gas is supplied to the cathode. The cell 2 includes a membrane electrode assembly 6, a cathode-side porous passage 8, an anode-side groove passage 10, a sealing member 12, separators 14a and 14b, and a shield member 16. Note that FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4, 5, and 6 each show only left portions of the two cells 2 stacked. Note that reference numerals are assigned only to the components of the upper cell 2.
[0025] The membrane electrode assembly 6 is formed of an ion-conductive electrolyte membrane 3, a cathode 4 that is disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane 3, and an anode 5 that is disposed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane 3. Protons and electrons are produced from the fuel gas supplied to the anode 5. The protons pass through the electrolyte membrane 3 to reach the cathode 4. These protons react with the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode 4, whereby electric energy and water are produced. Examples of materials for the membrane electrode assembly 6 include the following.' That is, an ion-exchange resin having a fluorine-containing polymer as a skeleton may be used as the material for the electrolyte membrane 3. For the anode 4 and the cathode 5, a conductive support formed by causing a carbon material (e.g. carbon black) to support a metal catalyst such as Pt or Au, may be used.
[0026] The porous passage 8 is formed of a metal porous body such as an expanded metal or a metal sintered body, and is provided on the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly 6. An end portion of the porous passage 8 projects into the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a. The cathode-side porous passage 8 communicates with the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a. Through the porous passage 8, the oxidant gas introduced through the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is supplied to the cathode 5 of the membrane electrode assembly 6.
[0027] The separator 14a is formed of a conductive flat plate made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, and is disposed on the surface of the porous passage 8, which is on the opposite side of the porous passage 8 from the membrane electrode assembly 6. The separator 14a has an opening at a position corresponding to the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, whereby the passage for the oxidant gas is formed. Similarly, the separator 14a has openings at positions corresponding to the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a, the coolant supply manifold portion 22a, the fuel gas discharge manifold portion 18b, the oxidant gas discharge manifold portion 20b, and the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b (not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B).
[0028] The separator 14b is provided on the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly 6. Like the separator 14a, the separator 14b is made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. The separator 14b has the recess (projection) at its central portion thereof, which forms passages extending from the coolant supply manifold portion 22a to the coolant discharge manifold portion 22b (see FIG. 2B). The recess (projection) is formed by the recessed portions 42 and the projected portions 44. The fuel gas flows along the recessed portions 42 and the coolant flows along the projected portions 44. The separator 14b also has the stepped portions 46 between the manifold portions at the end portions of the outer periphery and the recess (projection) at the central portion. The stepped portion 46 of the separator 14b between the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a and the recessed portions 42 at the central portion is formed like stairs. The separator 14b is in contact with the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the sealing member 12 at the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20aside thereof. The separator 14b is separate from the membrane electrode assembly 6 at the stepped portion 46, and is in contact with the adjacent cell at the recessed portions 42 at the central portion of the cell 2. Thus, the gap is formed between the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the separator 14b, whereby the groove passages 10 in which the fuel gas flows are formed. That is, the fuel gas supplied through the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a (not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) flows through the groove passages 10 and is supplied to the anode 5.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3B, between the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a and the projected portions 44 at the central portion of the cell 2, the stepped portion 46 of the separator 14b is formed so as to project in the stacking direction toward the adjacent cell. The separator 14b is in contact with the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the sealing member 12 at the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a side thereof. The separator 14b is separate from the membrane electrode assembly 6 at the stepped portion 46, and is in contact with the membrane electrode assembly 6 also at the projected portions 44 at the central portion of the cell 2. Thus, a space 50 is formed between the separator 14b and a separator 14a of the adjacent cell, through which the coolant flows. That is, the coolant supplied through the coolant supply manifold portion 22a (not shown in FIG. 3B) flows between the separator 14b and the adjacent cell 2 to cool the cells 2. Note that, in the first embodiment, the projections and recesses are formed on both sides of the separator 14b, and the projections and recesses on one side match the recesses and projections on the other side, respectively. Alternatively, the separator 14b may be formed such that one side thereof is flat and the other side thereof has projections and recesses. [0030] The shield member 16 and the sealing member 12 are disposed between the porous passage 8 and the separator 14b at the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a side of the cell 2. The shield member 16 is made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. An oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a-side end portion of the shield member 16 extends further outward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the porous passage 8. The other end portion of the shield member 16 extends further inward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the cathode 4 so as to be held between the cathode 4 and the porous passage 8. With the structure described above, it is possible to prevent the situation where the sealing member 12 permeates and clogs the pores of the porous passage 8 to reduce porosity. Note that the feature that the end portion of the shield member 16 extends outward with respect to the cell 2 means that the end portion of the shield member 16 extends outward, with respect to the cell 2, in the plane of the shield member 16.
[0031] The sealing member 12 is provided, adjacent to an end surface of the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the groove passages 10, on the opposite side of the shield member 16 from the porous passage 8, so as to seal a gap between the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, and the membrane electrode assembly 6 and the groove passages 10. Therefore, the oxidant gas supplied through the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is supplied to the membrane electrode assembly 6 through the porous passage 8 without leaking to the anode 5 or the groove passages 10.
[0032] Gaskets 13 are disposed between the separator 14b of the cell 2 and the separator 14a of the adjacent cell 2. The gaps formed between these separators 14b and 14a form passages for the coolant.
[0033] In the fuel cell 2 according to the first embodiment, the oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is supplied to the cathode 4 through an end portion of a separator 14a-side stacking surface of the cathode-side porous passage 8, the stacking surface being a surface facing in the stacking direction. Therefore, even if the porosity of an end surface portion of the porous passage 8 is low, a sufficient amount of oxidant gas is introduced into the porous passage 8 and supplied to the cathode 4, whereby it is possible to improve the power generation performance of the fuel cell stack 1. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the situation where the sealing member 12 adjacent to the porous flow path 8 permeates the porous passage 8 to cause clogging that may result in blockage of the gas inlet. Thus, it is possible to reliably cause the fuel gas or the oxidant gas to flow from the gas inlet to the membrane electrode assembly 6 and to be supplied thereto. Further, the end portion of the stacking surface of the porous passage 8 serves as the gas inlet. Therefore, the gas inlet is adjacent to the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a and no complicated structure is required. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the gas introduction efficiency without reducing the power generation area (surface area), thereby achieving high power generation performance. Note that in the first embodiment, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3A, the oxidant gas is supplied from the anode side toward the cathode side. Alternatively, the oxidant gas may be supplied from the cathode side toward the anode side. When the oxidant gas is supplied from the anode side toward the cathode side as in the first embodiment, the direction in which the oxidant gas flows inside the manifold portion 20a and the direction in which the oxidant gas is introduced into the porous passage 8 are opposite to each other. Therefore, the gas does not rapidly flow into the porous passage 8, which makes it possible to supply gas uniformly to each cell 2 of the fuel cell stack 1. On the other hand, when the oxidant gas is supplied from the cathode side toward the anode side, the shield member 16 functions as a guide, so that the gas is more efficiently introduced into the porous passage 8.
[0034] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Like FIG. 3A, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Portions the same in structure as those in FIG. 3A will not be described below.
[0035] In the second embodiment, the shield member 16 is not provided at the boundary between the porous passage 8 and the sealing member 12, and the end portion of the cathode electrode 4 is extended in the direction of the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a. At the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a side, the end portion of the cathode 4 extends further outward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the sealing member 12. Thus, the cathode 4 covers the electrolyte membrane 3 and the sealing member 12, thereby providing a shielding effect. Note that the feature that the end portion of the cathode electrode 4 extends outward with respect to the cell 2 means that the end portion of the cathode electrode 4 extends outward, with respect to the cell 2, in the plane of the cathode electrode 4. When a diffusion layer (not shown) is interposed between the cathode electrode 4 and the porous passage 8, the end portion of the diffusion layer, in addition to or instead of the cathode electrode 4, may extend further outward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the sealing member 12.
[0036] With the fuel cell having the above structure, the cell structure is simplified, so that it is possible to reduce the number of components. Further, the power generation area is not reduced by the shield member. Thus, it is possible to efficiently supply the fuel gas or the oxidant gas to the porous passage while ensuring a sufficient size of power generation area in the membrane electrode assembly.
[0037] A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Like FIG. 3 A, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line A- A in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Portions the same in structure as those in FIG. 3A will not be described below.
[0038] The end portion of the porous passage 8 is disposed further inward, with respect to the cell 2, than the end portion of the shield member 16 at the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a side. The separator 14a has a projecting portion at a position corresponding to the end portion of the porous passage 8, and the end portion of the porous passage 8 is disposed at a position corresponding to the projecting portion of the separator 14a. Therefore, the oxidant gas supplied through the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is introduced through the end surface and the upper surface of the end portion of the porous passage 8 and is supplied to the membrane electrode assembly 6.
[0039] The separator 14b has a key-like bent portion along the outer periphery of the groove passages 10. The projecting portion of the separator 14a is fitted into the key-like bent portion of the separator 14b. The coolant flows through the gaps between the separator 14b and the separator 14a of the adjacent cell 2. [0040] With the fuel cell 2 according to the third embodiment, the oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is efficiently supplied to the cathode 4 through a portion of the upper surface of the porous passage 8 (the surface on the separator 14a side), which is located at a position corresponding to the projecting portion of the separator 14a and which serves as the gas inlet. Therefore, even when the porosity of the end surface portion of the porous passage 8 is low, a sufficient amount of oxidant gas is introduced into the porous passage 8 and supplied to the cathode 4. Further, a pressure loss of the gas passage in the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is reduced. Consequently, the power generation performance of the fuel cell stack 1 is improved.
[0041] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. Like FIG. 3A, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Portions the same in structure as those in FIG. 3A will not be described below.
[0042] The end portion of the porous passage 8 is disposed further outward, with respect to the fuel cell 2, than the end portion of the shield member 16, projecting into the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a. Note that in the fourth embodiment, the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is a throughhole that is formed by the manifold holes provided in the separators 14a, 14b, which are aligned in the stacking direction, so as to pass through the fuel cell stack. At an end portion of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction, the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a communicates with the oxidant gas inlet 34a formed in the current collector plate 30.
[0043] With the fuel cell 2 according to the fourth embodiment, the oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a is introduced into the porous passage 8 from its lower surface in the stacking direction. Then, the oxidant gas flows in two directions. That is, the oxidant gas flowing in one direction passes through the porous passage 8, is discharged into the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a, and flows toward the next cell 2, while the oxidant gas flowing in the other direction flows inside the porous passage 8. Further, a portion of the oxidant gas once discharged from the porous passage 8 into the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a turns around to be introduced into the porous passage 8 from its upper surface in the stacking direction. The oxidant gas thus introduced into the porous passage 8 from its upper and lower surfaces flows through the porous passage 8, and is supplied to the membrane electrode assembly 6. Thus, a sufficient amount of oxidant gas is introduced into the porous passage 8 from both the upper and lower stacking surfaces thereof. As result, regardless of the porosity of the end surface portion of the porous passage 8, it is possible to reliably introduce the oxidant gas into the porous passage 8, cause the oxidant gas to flow through the porous passage 8, and supply the oxidant gas to the cathode 4, thereby improving the power generation performance of the fuel cell stack 1. Note that the flow direction and the flow rate of the oxidant gas may be changed depending on the pore size and shape of the porous passage 8.
[0044] Note that in the above description of the first to fourth embodiments, specific description has been made of the mode of supplying the oxidant gas from the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a to the cathode side porous flow path 8. However, such embodiments are applicable also in the case of supplying the fuel gas from the fuel gas supply manifold portion 18a to an anode-side porous passage 10. In addition, in these embodiments, specific description has been made of the case where the oxidant gas flows through the oxidant gas supply manifold portion 20a from the anode side to the cathode side. However, the direction of flow of the oxidant gas is not limited to this. The oxidant gas may flow from the cathode side to the anode side.
[0045] The invention has been described with reference to example embodiments for illustrative purposes only. It should be understood that the description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit form of the invention and that the invention may be adapted for use in other systems and applications. The scope of the invention embraces various modifications and equivalent arrangements that may be conceived by one skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A fuel cell characterized by comprising:
a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane, an anode disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode disposed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane;
a porous passage that is disposed on at least one side of the membrane electrode assembly, and through which a fuel gas is supplied to the anode or an oxidant gas is supplied to the cathode; and
a manifold portion, through which the fuel gas or the oxidant gas is supplied to the porous passage, and that is provided so as to pass through the fuel cell in a stacking direction, in which the electrolyte membrane, the anode, the cathode, and the porous passage are stacked, wherein
a manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage has a gas inlet at at least one of stacking surfaces of the porous passage that face in the stacking direction.
2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising:
a sealing member that is disposed between an outer end surface of the membrane electrode assembly and the manifold portion; and
a shield member that is disposed between the sealing member and the porous passage, wherein
a manifold portion-side end portion of the shield member extends further outward, with respect to the fuel cell, than a manifold portion-side end portion of the sealing member.
3. The fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the manifold portion-side end portion of the shield member extends further outward, with respect to the fuel cell, than the manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage.
4. The fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising
a sealing member that is disposed adjacent to a manifold portion-side end portion of the membrane electrode assembly, wherein
a manifold portion-side end portion of one of the anode and cathode that is in contact with the porous passage extends further outward, with respect to the fuel cell, than a manifold portion-side end portion of the sealing member.
5. The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the manifold portion-side end portion of the porous passage projects into the manifold portion.
6. The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
a separator having a projecting portion is disposed on one side of the membrane electrode assembly with the porous passage interposed between the separator and the membrane electrode assembly,
the manifold portion and a space formed by the projecting portion of the separator communicate with each other, and
the porous passage is provided such that a manifold portion-side edge of the porous passage is located at a position within a width of the projecting portion of the separator.
7. A fuel cell stack characterized by comprising the fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
EP11808923.4A 2010-12-06 2011-12-05 Fuel cell and fuel cell stack Active EP2649662B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2010271956A JP5240282B2 (en) 2010-12-06 2010-12-06 Fuel cell
PCT/IB2011/002934 WO2012076956A1 (en) 2010-12-06 2011-12-05 Fuel cell and fuel cell stack

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2649662A1 true EP2649662A1 (en) 2013-10-16
EP2649662B1 EP2649662B1 (en) 2015-10-28

Family

ID=45496199

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11808923.4A Active EP2649662B1 (en) 2010-12-06 2011-12-05 Fuel cell and fuel cell stack

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US9343761B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2649662B1 (en)
JP (1) JP5240282B2 (en)
CN (1) CN103250290B (en)
WO (1) WO2012076956A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9362573B2 (en) 2011-12-06 2016-06-07 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Fuel cell
JP5900034B2 (en) * 2012-03-08 2016-04-06 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell and fuel cell manufacturing method
JP5874928B2 (en) * 2012-11-29 2016-03-02 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell stack
DE112013006854B4 (en) 2013-03-22 2018-12-06 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Fuel cell with improved durability
JP5874679B2 (en) * 2013-04-25 2016-03-02 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell
JP6036652B2 (en) * 2013-11-11 2016-11-30 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Separator and fuel cell used in fuel cell
JP5910640B2 (en) 2014-01-15 2016-04-27 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell
JP6064959B2 (en) * 2014-09-25 2017-01-25 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell
JP6119707B2 (en) * 2014-09-25 2017-04-26 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell and fuel cell manufacturing method
JP6210046B2 (en) 2014-10-14 2017-10-11 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Welding method for porous channel
JP6094766B2 (en) * 2014-11-05 2017-03-15 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell
JP6724833B2 (en) 2017-03-22 2020-07-15 ブラザー工業株式会社 Fuel cell and temperature adjustment method
JP2021511631A (en) * 2018-01-17 2021-05-06 ヌヴェラ・フュエル・セルズ，エルエルシー Electrochemical cell with improved fluid flow design
WO2019143792A1 (en) * 2018-01-17 2019-07-25 Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC Electrochemical cells with improved fluid flow design
ES2969963T3 (en) * 2018-01-17 2024-05-23 Nuvera Fuel Cells Llc PEM fuel cells with improved fluid flow design

Family Cites Families (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4993828B2 (en) * 2001-09-06 2012-08-08 株式会社日本自動車部品総合研究所 Fuel cell
JP4042547B2 (en) * 2002-10-08 2008-02-06 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell seal structure
JP2005197150A (en) * 2004-01-09 2005-07-21 Toyota Motor Corp Fuel cell
JP4844039B2 (en) * 2005-08-05 2011-12-21 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell
JP5011729B2 (en) * 2006-01-16 2012-08-29 トヨタ自動車株式会社 FUEL CELL COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING FUEL CELL COMPONENT
JP2007194074A (en) * 2006-01-19 2007-08-02 Toyota Motor Corp Fuel cell
US20090098435A1 (en) * 2006-01-19 2009-04-16 Kazunori Shibata Fuel cells
JP4978060B2 (en) * 2006-05-31 2012-07-18 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell and manufacturing method thereof
JP4957091B2 (en) * 2006-06-26 2012-06-20 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell
JP2008052953A (en) * 2006-08-23 2008-03-06 Toyota Motor Corp Manufacturing method for fuel battery component
JP2008171587A (en) 2007-01-09 2008-07-24 Toyota Motor Corp Fuel cell system
JP2008192400A (en) * 2007-02-02 2008-08-21 Toyota Motor Corp Fuel cell, its manufacturing method, and laminate member for fuel cell
JP5125275B2 (en) * 2007-02-05 2013-01-23 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell and vehicle equipped with fuel cell
JP2008204693A (en) * 2007-02-19 2008-09-04 Toyota Motor Corp Fuel cell
JP4924829B2 (en) * 2007-07-10 2012-04-25 トヨタ車体株式会社 Fuel cell separator
JP2009054346A (en) * 2007-08-24 2009-03-12 Toyota Motor Corp Separator for fuel cell and fuel cell
ES2382406T3 (en) * 2007-10-05 2012-06-08 Topsoe Fuel Cell A/S Sealing gasket for a porous metal support in a fuel cell
JP5109570B2 (en) * 2007-10-15 2012-12-26 株式会社エクォス・リサーチ Fuel cell stack
JP2009134948A (en) * 2007-11-29 2009-06-18 Toyota Motor Corp Fuel cell system
JP2009266692A (en) 2008-04-25 2009-11-12 Toyota Motor Corp Single cell assembly, fuel cell, and manufacturing method of them
JP5304082B2 (en) * 2008-07-30 2013-10-02 トヨタ車体株式会社 Fuel cell power generation cell
JP2010080201A (en) 2008-09-25 2010-04-08 Toyota Motor Corp Method of manufacturing fuel cell
JP2010165473A (en) 2009-01-13 2010-07-29 Toyota Motor Corp Fuel cell, and method of manufacturing sealing structure for the same
JP2010205593A (en) 2009-03-04 2010-09-16 Toshiba Corp Fuel cell

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20130260281A1 (en) 2013-10-03
CN103250290B (en) 2014-12-24
JP2012123949A (en) 2012-06-28
EP2649662B1 (en) 2015-10-28
JP5240282B2 (en) 2013-07-17
WO2012076956A1 (en) 2012-06-14
US9343761B2 (en) 2016-05-17
CN103250290A (en) 2013-08-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2649662B1 (en) Fuel cell and fuel cell stack
US7022430B2 (en) Compact fuel cell with improved fluid supply
JP4245091B2 (en) Fuel cell
US7759014B2 (en) Fuel cell having a seal member
EP2549573B1 (en) Polymer electrolyte fuel cell and fuel cell stack equipped with same
JP5197995B2 (en) Fuel cell
US20050186464A1 (en) Fuel cell
JP2012212678A (en) Fuel cell
EP2296213B1 (en) Fuel cell stack
JP2006120562A (en) Fuel cell stack
EP2525429A1 (en) Fuel cell
JP2004158341A (en) Fuel cell stack
EP2330668B1 (en) Polymer electrolyte fuel cell and fuel cell stack provided with same
US7572538B2 (en) Fuel cell
JP2004014446A (en) Fuel cell
JP4422505B2 (en) Fuel cell
KR102034458B1 (en) Fuel cell stack
JP6403099B2 (en) Fuel cell module
CN216288531U (en) Power generation unit cell of fuel cell stack
JP5021698B2 (en) Fuel cell stack
EP4075554A1 (en) Separator for fuel cell and fuel cell stack
JP4358083B2 (en) Fuel cell
JP2006344586A (en) Fuel cell
JP4851478B2 (en) Fuel cell
JP2010205669A (en) Separator and fuel cell including the same

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20130604

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: SATO, KENJI,

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20140716

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20140728

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R079

Ref document number: 602011021049

Country of ref document: DE

Free format text: PREVIOUS MAIN CLASS: H01M0008020000

Ipc: H01M0008000000

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: H01M 8/24 20060101ALI20150330BHEP

Ipc: H01M 8/00 20060101AFI20150330BHEP

Ipc: H01M 8/02 20060101ALI20150330BHEP

Ipc: H01M 8/10 20060101ALN20150330BHEP

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20150604

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 758372

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20151115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602011021049

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20151028

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 758372

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20151028

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160128

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160228

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160229

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20151231

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160129

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151205

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602011021049

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20160128

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R084

Ref document number: 602011021049

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20160831

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20160729

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160128

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20151205

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20151231

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20151231

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20151231

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20111205

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151028

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230427

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20231031

Year of fee payment: 13